Materials Engineer salary in Illinois
Materials Engineers in Illinois earn a median of $126,620 a year ($60.87 an hour), based on BLS data for 290 workers.
Pay ranges from $71,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $165,710 for the top 10%. That is 12% higher than the national median of $112,860. Illinois ranks 7th of 45 states for materials engineers pay. There are 0.05 materials engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.33). The average (mean) salary is $122,070, close to the median.
Pay range for materials engineers in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $71,780 | $34.51 |
| 25th percentile | $91,570 | $44.03 |
| Median | $126,620 | $60.87 |
| 75th percentile | $136,710 | $65.73 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $165,710 | $79.67 |
| Average (mean) | $122,070 | $58.69 |
Half of materials engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,551.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,275.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,870 |
| Weekly | $2,435 |
| Hourly | $60.87 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Materials Engineer salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $114,670 | 120 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $99,590 | 250 |
Highest-paying states for materials engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $165,600 |
| Maryland | $140,640 |
| Washington | $139,840 |
| Delaware | $131,320 |
| Louisiana | $128,670 |
| California | $128,470 |
| Illinois | $126,620 |
| New York | $125,900 |
| Colorado | $124,030 |
| Alaska | $123,360 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineer | $100,540 | $48.34 |
| Civil Engineer | $99,760 | $47.96 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $102,680 | $49.37 |
| Electrical Engineer | $107,860 | $51.85 |
| Engineers, All Other | $111,930 | $53.81 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $133,220 | $64.05 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $134,510 | $64.67 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $129,390 | $62.21 |
| Environmental Engineer | $107,990 | $51.92 |
| Chemical Engineer | $121,560 | $58.44 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $89,520 | $43.04 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $111,370 | $53.54 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $108,940 | $52.38 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $107,690 | $51.77 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2131. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a materials engineer make in Illinois?
The median salary for materials engineers in Illinois is $126,620 a year, or $60.87 an hour. Pay ranges from $71,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $165,710 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid materials engineers make in Illinois?
The top 10% of materials engineers in Illinois earn at least $165,710 a year. The top 25% earn $136,710 or more.
What is the starting pay for materials engineers in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $71,780 a year, and a quarter of materials engineers earn $91,570 or less.
How many materials engineers work in Illinois?
About 290 materials engineers are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.